You put the lime in the coconut

If you are a person of a certain age, you remember Harry Nilsson singing You put the lime in the coconut. T’is a pretty silly song, but, a big hit. Well, today is the perfect day for that song. It’s national Pina Colada day. Now that’s something we can all get behind. Just that thought of it evokes tropical scenery with beaches, palm trees, and total relaxation. Medicinal? Well, in some worlds. The best pre-med students will advise you to drink heavily (or just Blutarsky). They both may be on to something. Coconut has multiple health benefits. And, citrus has a long history of helping with things like scurvy. So, today, we’re going to put the lime in the coconut with rum and pineapple, because you need your vitamin C. And, maybe even a little umbrella.

What happens when you put the lime in the coconut? Magic.

Coconut

First, let’s look at the health benefits. Coconut comes in many forms. The fruit or nut itself has a white flesh that can be used straight as a food item or pressed to create milk or cream. It’s high in fat and protein with a lot of nutrients like manganese, copper, selenium, phosphorous, iron, potassium, and magnesium. It also has enzymes that help stave off infections, bacteria, and even some diseases. Sugar regulation is a side effect of coconut. So, it may help with diabetes and weight loss. Plus, athletes swear that it helps with endurance. Dentists prescribe it to help with mouth bacteria. And, holistic health professionals highly recommend using it in your daily health regimen.

But, as with all things, moderation is the key. It is high in saturated fat. Although, it is a better form of saturated fat that is more digestible than animal fat. And, the other caveat is that it’s usually sweetened. And, that extra sugar counters a lot of what you’re taking it for. But, today, we are taking it for pleasure, so stuff that in your coconut shell. And, soon you’ll join Merv Griffin singing: I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts.

Pineapple

This magical, but scary looking fruit doesn’t get the press that it should. Not only is it high in Vitamin C and other nutrient, it’s a great cure for what ails you. There are enzymes that aid in digestion. And, it has all kinds of anti-bacterial properties. It can even help you recover from surgery quicker. Plus, it can keep cancer at bay. Must be the spikes. Of course, it can be a bit sweet. So, again: Moderation.

Limes

We all know limes are high in vitamin C. And, you may recall Sailors used them to fight against scurvy. What the hell is scurvy? You don’t hear about it anymore. Must be the limes working. But, back to limes. In addition to the vitamin C, the have anti-oxidants, boost immunity, help fight cancer and heart disease. They even help with healthy skin.

Rum

You knew rum was good for you, right? IF you need to know more about rum, read some of our previous posts. And, don’t forget, even though it comes from sugar, it has a whole bunch of health benefits. It helps prevent heart disease by stopping blockages from occurring. Anti-bacterial properties help lessen the duration of colds, plus, it helps with sore throats. Try some hot buttered rum. Rum can help with muscle soreness, and also helps with the dreaded scurvy. We even see it used as an antiseptic. Plus, it helps de-stress. When is the last time you saw someone freaking out while drinking a rum cocktail in the Caribbean?

So, today: You put the lime in the coconut

While they are obviously healthy, pina coladas need to be taken in moderation. But, not too much moderation. After all, it’s pina colada day. Ironically, these ingredients that have been around for a long time, but not formally named until Ramón “Monchito” Marrero claims to have created it in a hotel bar in Puerto Rico in 1954. Supposedly, the pirate Roberto Cofresí served a similar drink to his men in the 19th century though. And, A “pina colada” recipe shows up in The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock, from 1930. So, the whole thing sounds like someone is lying. Either way, it is the national drink of puerto Rico and decidedly delicious.

The official recipe doesn’t actually have lime. But, lime adds a dimension that really gives a little zip to the drink. Plus, it usually shows up as a garnish anyway. So, here is our recipe for 4 drinks (even if it’s just you, you’ll want 4):

• 8 oz Rum
• 6 oz coconut cream, sweetened (Like coco lopez)
• 8 oz Pineapple Juice
• 2 oz Lime Juice
• Ice
• Lime and pineapple to garnish

Directions and Variation

You can get all tropical and serve it inside a hollowed out pineapple or a coconut shell. But, for most of us, a glass will do just fine. If you have space and time, frost the glass in the freezer ahead of time. You can do a sugar rim too if you want. Simply put all the ingredients in a shaker, pour into a glass, garnish, and serve. Or, if you like, you can put the ingredients and a fair amount of ice in a blender and make a frozen pina colada. Add in a little coconut ice cream too. All you’ll want to do is hang by the pool or beach and suck these babies down.

Salud!